Rotary Swapped Mazda MX5 Walkthrough

[@psychicer5022]

I imagine because the NC was "made from" the RX8 chassis, this should feel like how an Rx8 would if it didnt have the extra weight. better balance power to weight? I could be wrong. Anyways really cool swap. Ive only ever thought of doing a renesis swap on an fb if my rx8 were to get wrecked. part of the reason i got an rx8 was the cluster. Center tach with he red/blue so good🤣🤣

[@RubyMotorsport]

It's similar. You can feel the loss of weight in comparison but it's a shorter chassis so it's not directly a lighter RX8

[@SinsAscendant]

I had been running into the same issuee with the factory ECU. Used my ECU Master EMU Black after we spoke on Instagram. Really appreciate the help! Glad to see some videos made on it!

[@RubyMotorsport]

I'm going to run my FC on a Haltech, so I'll end up wiring this for that as well. More videos will be coming on this as I work on it.

[@BushidoDriver]

We were doing so well and then ..... "half bridge port"...... But seriously great video , more NC's need rotaries!

[@RubyMotorsport]

In my defence, I was sold the car as a street port. I'd have done the full bridge if it was my choice

[@nicolasdeleon2819]

​@@RubyMotorsport Why?

[@BushidoDriver]

@@RubyMotorsport well in that case, I suppose you came out ahead! 😆

[@RubyMotorsport]

Definitely! I have more plans for this later down the line, but I need to get the FC going first!

[@enjoyablecars]

I’ll be embarking on this swap shortly so useful info in there , cheers 👍

[@RubyMotorsport]

Amazing, feel free to ask questions if you need anything

[@mattguy3938]

Awesome vid, really interesting to see your build and hear how you've done it! I would love to do this swap into an NA/NB one day. Looking forward to seeing a pull!

[@RubyMotorsport]

There's a few people that have done this in a NA and NB. There's going to be more content of this in the new year as I work on refining it and working out what the misfire issue is.

[@mx5milton]

cant wait to drive this once its 100%

[@RubyMotorsport]

You and everyone who helped me with it will be getting a go

[@aaronpitts2762]

Been wanting to do this for a while now

[@RubyMotorsport]

I'd love to see it when it's done!

[@jamesowen418]

Misfire at high rpm could be plugs/leads/coils. Definately check the coils (multimeter, or swap around front/rear coils/leads & see if the misfire moves to the other rotor housing), and the leads are seated properly both ends + youve got the leading and trailing coils & leads on the corresponding leading & trailing sparkplugs at each housing, I'd fit new plugs if theyve not been changed already, rx8 can be fussy over ignition system parts, worth double checking the ignition wiring & connectors too as the engine has been in/out/into a different car. Otherwise possibly a water seal issue allowing coolant into the combustion chamber at high rpm/load & causing a misfire.😢

[@RubyMotorsport]

Leads and plugs are next on my list to check. It's still running stock coils and I have no idea how old they are, so throwing upgraded ones on won't hurt. I'll look at the leads, they're after market so might benefit from a good clean. I doubt it'll be water seals, the engine is only 2000 miles or so old and when the issue goes away, it pulls well. It won't hurt to comp test it though.

[@tnutss]

Can you run the versatune on this rx8 ecu so you can turn on the fan earlier and cool it down? Oem rx8 fans don’t turn on till 200+f and not full blast till 230F or something crazy like that. I have modified my fans to turn on full blast by 204F and I haven’t had any temp rises over 205F since. Are you running the rx8 oil coolers as well?

[@RubyMotorsport]

Yeah, single cooler as it was on the JDM car. Good point on the versa tune, my friend has access to the software so I could ask him if he can do that for me

[@tnutss]

@ the oil cooler thermostat also doesn’t open till 230F. I have bought the thermostat that opens around 180F from rotaryperformance. I still haven’t installed it since the fan mod was so effective, but I do plan on doing it before next summer where we get 110-115F sometimes where we are in California

[@DSORDR1]

Doesn't the NC MX5 already have a RX8 gearbox?

[@RubyMotorsport]

The MX5 was a 5 speed and the RX8 was a 6 speed, so I took the 6 speed box. There are definitely differences as the tail shafts on the end were different, at least between the 5 speed MX5 and 6 speed RX8

[@RubyMotorsport]

Having a quick Google, the ratios are different in the MX5 6 speed and the RX8 6 speed as well. Most likely to accommodate the different rev limit and torque levels

[@DCCUSTOMSANDFABRICATION]

Not hating but isn’t the rx8 the worst rotary ever made

[@RubyMotorsport]

Depends what your definition of "worst" is. This is an "easy" engine swap. Using most of the RX8 to do it with. I could have done it with an REW and made silly horsepower but that wasn't what this build was about.

[@Macinvodakin]

Worst rotary so far... eh? 😅

[@jamesowen418]

Not really, it's the result of many years of rotary r&d by Mazda, the older 12a & 13b were no more reliable and produced less power, the 13b REW was the same but had higher power only because it used twin turbos. The 13b-MSP is a tuned high compression NA engine, which makes decent power and mpg and emissions are much better, although it doesn't easily lend itself to forced induction, unlike the 13b REW. So I wouldn't say "worst" rotary, it is what it is, and if it's serviced & maintained properly it's as reliable as any other rotary, unfortunately mass producing it and expecting joe public to religiously follow the service & maintenance didn't really go to plan... But hey, at least there's plenty of cheap rx8's & engines out there to use for a project.

[@RubyMotorsport]

That's a good point. The 13b REW I have in the FC made 200bhp with a turbo and the renesis makes 231bhp naturally aspirated.

[@Macinvodakin]

@jamesowen418 my 2009 RX8 has 132k miles originally engine from the factory. It's still going has low compression by Mazda standards but still runs, drives and idles. Gotta love the RX8 for what it is. Modern day FC with high reving engine and good gearing and great and balanced chassis.